Spirit vs Natural

Before bed each night I read one chapter of Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs. Since starting this, I have read through Proverbs two or three times now.

Reading through the book in its entirety is very interesting. There are many, many times the book of Proverbs warns about being ensnared by the prostitute. My mind wondered at this several times.

We know Solomon gave us most of the Proverbs, and he definitely had some issues with sexual sin. So, I suppose he would intimately know how sexual immorality would affect one's life.

But it seemed there was more.

Not too long ago, a beautiful saint and leader of our church, sent a text challenging us to read the Proverbs and truly take them in. My immediate thought was, awesome, I'm already doing that! My second thought was, Lord, what do you have for us?

I was truckin' along, reading Proverbs, getting neat little nuggets here and there. Then, this same saint sent a text specifically citing Proverbs 3:17-18 from The Passion Translation:

The ways of wisdom are sweet, always drawing you into the place of wholeness. Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings, for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits. - Proverbs 3:17-18 [TPT, italics mine]

Pow! A revelation hit me.

Upon reading this verse, I saw a broader theme of the book of Proverbs. These verses state that wisdom is always "drawing you in". Do you know how many times the book of Proverbs either tells us or shows us an image of a prostitute "drawing him in".

There are two active entities drawing us in.

The spirit of Widsom (or let's say the spirit realm) is actively drawing us into wholeness. While the spirit of Foolishness/the prostitute (or let's say the natural realm) is actively drawing us into destruction.

Wow. The two forces at work in this world. And they are both actively vying for our attention.

My experience with Proverbs reminds me of the saying, Can't see the forest for the trees.

When reading Proverbs, I was blinded to the "forest" (the overall theme) for the "trees" (each individual proverb). I was trying to understand every little detail and figure out what the author was trying to teach. How can what was being taught apply to my life now? I mean, I don't have an issue with seeking out prostitutes.

Now I get it.

The "prostitute" is anything in this life that seduces me away from God. And I do have issues with those...wasting time, doom scrolling, escaping in some way, procrastination, selfishness, pride, etc. Those are seductions that truly tempt me and I do succumb.

Maybe those "small" prostitutes in life don't immediately bring my demise or destruction, but keeping along that path could eventually cause damage to my relationship with God, others, and myself.

Prostitutes reduce a man to poverty, and the adulteress steals your soul - she may even cost you your life. - Proverbs 6:26 [TPT, underline mine]

Stay far away from prostitutes and you'll stay far away from the pit of destruction. For sleeping with a promiscuous woman is like falling into a trap that you'll never be able to escape! - Proverbs 23:27 [TPT, underline mine]

Pretty serious.

We read the scripture, and shake our heads and say, yep, that's right, that's what happens. But, when we have a broader understanding we can truly apply this to our lives...

and then the scriptures get personal.

Here's a challenge...say the above verses out loud and change the underlined words to the thing that is "seducing" you the most right now. Let's get real, here's my own personal example:

Proverbs 6:26 - Doom scrolling reduces me to poverty, and doom scrolling steals my soul - doom scrolling may even cost me my life.

Proverbs 23:27 - Stay far away from doom scrolling and I'll stay far away from the pit of destruction. For sleeping (intimate time) with doom scrolling is like falling into a trap that I'll never be able to escape!

Ouch.

How can doom scrolling reduce me to poverty? - Could I be doing something else during that time to make money, or help my family? (poverty isn't only money)

How can doom scrolling steal my soul? - Does it cause me to be closer to God or draw me farther away?

How can doom scrolling cost me my life? - How long do I sit and scroll? Probably long enough I could have taken a 20-30 minute walk instead. Physical health and mental health can be affected due to doom scrolling.

Please understand, this is not a post about doom scrolling. That was my own personal temptation. Yours may be completely different. Ask God, "What is causing me to "cheat" on You, Lord?"

What thing in your life is your "prostitute"? What thing is seducing you to the point of falling into its trap?

Remember, we can't be perfect. We will mess up. We will choose the seductress at times. And there is grace. We don't nullify the cross because of the choices we make. Heavens, no. That was the purpose of the cross, to take on all our sins and offer forgiveness. However, we should not use our preciously bought freedom as a ticket to sin.

After receiving this beautiful broad theme revelation regarding the book of Proverbs, it really hit home because I was struggling with some temptations, some escaping mechanisms. While wrestling with the Lord about how to no longer choose these things, I sensed His sweet voice. In His beautifully loving, kind, and encouraging way the Lord gently gave me these words...

It's not so much about what you choose, but what you chase.

You see, we will mess up and we will make mistakes. We will choose the wrong thing at times. And those are individual actions that need to be reconciled with the Father. The problem is when we start to chase after a thing. The young man in the book of Proverbs, who has a rendevous with a prostitue, knew where she lived, knew the path to her house. This was not a chance encounter. This was planned, premeditated. (Proverbs 7:6-22)

He was chasing after this experience.

The question becomes...

What are you chasing after?